The beast and I are back on the road. Or on the pavement at least. The vet has cleared us for quiet walks around the block and the pet t-shirt is off to reveal a very shaved underside. Bertie saw one of his friends yesterday who wasted no time in sniffing around underneath, as if to say 'Where's the fur gone Bert?' He is a bit of a local legend at the moment, albeit not in a good way. Word of his misdeed has spread like lightning through the dog community.
The littlest boy is enjoying his last Christmas at primary school. They really do go all out in December at primary schools don't they? I shall miss it next year, when there will be no more than a half-hearted Christmas jumper day. Primary school has festive biscuits, Christmas cracker making competitions, design a poster for the Christmas fair competition, Christmas crafts, Christmas lunch, Christmas songs from 11 November onwards, 14 rehearsals for the carol service, a handful of nativity plays, the Christmas fair, Christmas films to be watched while the teachers and teaching assistants sit weakly in the corner trying to brush off the glitter, (oh the glitter), Christmas gifts to be made for all, Christmas cards to be designed, sweets and biscuits on Christmas party day, Christmas games, Christmas jumper day with decorated antlers and elf hats and if you're lucky a bit of panto. It's ALL going on.
The biggest boy is doing a bit of food photography at school, which may require me to up my game in the cooking department and make something artily Instagram-worthy. I'm thinking mince pies with rose petals strewn about or a lobster casually draped over an artisan tea-towel. A tray of oven chips is just not going to cut it. Needless to say I am not allowed to give any advice whatsoever. I moved a knife yesterday, oh there were ructions.
One of our biggest Christmas traditions is well under way, that of the advent calendar/advent candle. Every tea time someone gets to light the candle, someone gets to blow it out and someone opens the advent calendar. Every single day there is some sort of heated discussion about people doing it wrong or moving the candle or blowing it out too soon / not soon enough or blowing hot wax over someone else or doing the Hand In Naked Flame trick. It amazes me that they can keep it up for 24 days, but they can, every single year. Ah, tradition.
Lovely! All of it. Glad Bert is up and doing and you are throwing yourself into the Christmas stuff with gusto too xx
ReplyDeleteOh I remember Christmas in a primary school well. I had nearly 30 years of it and believe me type glitter wears off over that time.
ReplyDeleteOur little dog has a bare bottom a bare side and looks like a patchwork quilt. She has stitches out hopefully on Friday. I hope they both do well.
I'm so glad Bertie is doing better and you're back to walks. The advent candle gave me a laugh. You're brave, I don't even let mine have a candle!
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff....all of the goodest of things. xoxo
ReplyDeleteWOW.. that is a lot of Christmas activity in the school there! As a self-avowed Christmas junky, it sounded fabulous and wonderful. We're still setting things up here.. a Christmas village and skating pond on the piano today. Hubby is the electrician to get all the houses lit and there may have been a few cross words during the build. Not all the houses are lit, still. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Bert is on the mend. I loved the bit about your son’s photography, hilarious! Also, I can so identify with that ‘not allowed to offer any advice’ thing. My DD is 13 and obviously knows absolutely everything there is to know about everything already whereas I am a gibberish imbecile in all areas. Amazing! 😂😂
ReplyDeleteS x
Gorgeous post, CJ. I remember the lack of Christmas here when my youngest left primary school a few years ago – there's a noticeable lack of build-up which threw me the first year. I have to rely on my own motivation now, which is rather lacking this year. (I have bought one small present so far.) I love your advent tradition. My three get a calendar each so there are no squabbles. I admire your persistence. So glad Bertie and you are back walking. Sam xx
ReplyDeleteNice post and pictures. Good to know that Bertie is now okay. The last paragraph had me smiling. xx
ReplyDeleteEdible glitter on oven chips - way to go!
ReplyDeleteThat nightly advent candle/calendar sounds like a nice tradition CJ - and I love that you found 3 jobs for 3 boys to do!
ReplyDeleteI do miss school Christmas celebrations - all except the glitter. Someone called it the herpes of the craft world; you can never get rid of it. I'm glad that you and the beast (he looks anything but beastly!) are back on the prowl. Enjoy all things festive. xx
ReplyDeleteLobster and artisan tea towel - you've given me an idea for my next project! Though I also like Sandra's idea of edible glitter on oven chips :))
ReplyDeleteI am so late with this comment that Bertie is probably back to his normal boisterous self now. So glad to read he is on the mend. We used to have an Advent candle when I was little. Four actually, one for every Sunday in Advent. I miss this tradition, must remember it next year. Mind you, my granny nearly burned her house down with one..... our pre-Christmas time is curiously quiet. I probably missed a few letters lost in the depths of unspeakably messy schoolbags. I even missed the school Christmas fair (but that was a deliberate act of self preservation). Have a wonderful Sunday. xx
ReplyDeleteOur tradition is being completely angry during our annual Christmas photo. I mean every single year we are screaming at each other, then have to stand close and smile like we are a family that really gets along all the time. I am so jealous of those photos of families on exotic vacations smiling and having a good time. We can't even get it together long enough to walk into my backyard. Glad Bertie is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteAhh... life with boys *sigh*. I do miss it!
ReplyDeletehow lovely to have such sweet traditions to hold onto for life x
ReplyDeleteP.S. Bert you rock!